Enforcement action has been taken against eight employers in the kiwifruit sector in the Opotiki area following an operation carried out last year by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).
The Ministry's Labour Inspectorate and Immigration New Zealand, together with Inland Revenue visited 29 businesses including orchards, pack houses and administrative offices to check their compliance with employment, immigration and tax laws.
Labour Inspectorate Regional Manager Natalie Gardiner said MBIE issued eight Improvement Notices for 22 minimum employment standard breaches.
These include breaches of the Employment Relations Act 2000, the Holidays Act 2003, the Minimum Wage Act 1983 and the Wages Protection Act 1983.
Seven of eight Improvement Notices have now been complied with. One is still being assessed for compliance by the Inspector. There were no illegal migrant workers located.
"The level of non-compliance identified during this operation was disappointing but consistent with the information and complaints we had been receiving prior to our operation, particularly over a lack of time and wage recording which is required by law," Mrs Gardiner said.